NFL Free agency predictions: How will the Steelers fill the gap at linebacker?

The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to have a recurring theme when it comes to the inside linebacker position. Since Ryan Shazier tragically went down with a career-ending spinal injury, this team has not been able to find quality help at the position. Entering the 2023 season, the outlook at linebacker looks as bleak as ever.

Many fans thought things couldn't get worse after the devastatingly poor play we witnessed during the 2021 season. Joe Schobert failed to live up to lofty expectations as he disappointed in every facet of the game, while Devin Bush was almost unplayable.

Sadly, this past season wasn't any better. After paying good money for Myles Jack in free agency, the veteran linebacker underwhelmed in 2022. Meanwhile, Bush failed to take a big step forward, and Robert Spillane was forced to play much more than we would have liked to have seen him.

Now the Steelers have a big issue on their hands at the position for a number of reasons. Not only is linebacker arguably the weakest position on the team, but Bush and Spillane are unrestricted free agents -- making a sticky situation even stickier. In addition, Jack has an absurd cap number of $11.25 million for the 2023 season, according to Over the Cap, and the Steelers will have to decide what to do with him.

Steelers must cover their bases with a veteran LB

The biggest thing the Steelers need to do this offseason when it comes to the linebacker position is to make sure they have all their bases covered. By doing so, Pittsburgh can avoid pigeonholing themselves into selecting a linebacker with one of their top picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. The best way to do this is by adding a quality veteran in free agency.

After seeing his role greatly reduced toward the end of the 2022 season, there is very little chance that Devin Bush returns. Even if the Steelers are able to resign veteran Robert Spillane to a cheap deal, they will still have a sizeable hole in their starting lineup. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, there are a number of quality free-agent options this year at the linebacker position.

Veteran linebackers Steelers could add in free agency

Depending on their budget, there are plenty of options to choose from in free agency. The Steelers could go with a stable, high-end veteran like Lavonte David or T.J. Edwards. The downfall is that a player in this tier would cost the Steelers quite a bit of money. Spotrac has both David and Edwards projected upwards of $9.5 million in annual earnings on projected new deals in free agency.

If the Steelers want to go a bit more middle-of-the-road, a player like Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch or Falcons LB Rashaan Evans might be a little more in their price range. Of course, there have been rumblings among fans of swinging for the fences with a player like Bills LB Tremaine Edmunds. Still just 24 years old after his rookie contract and fifth-year option, Edmunds might be one of the most sought-after free agents in 2023.

One of the aforementioned players would certainly offer the Pittsburgh Steelers an upgrade at the linebacker position in 2023 and would give Omar Khan plenty of flexibility in the NFL Draft.